In fact, in 1912, roughly a million people 6 percent of the popular vote, voted for a socialist for president. Debs ran as a socialist party candidate for president five times, and in between the. Jul 30, 20 this 1904 campaign poster highlighting socialist party presidential hopeful eugene debs and his running mate ben hanford helped put the underdog party on the map. May 04, 2014 a short studentproduced multimedia documentary examining the rise of american socialism during the gilded age 1870s1910s.
Muckrakers criticize big business though most progressives did not embrace socialism, many writers saw the truth in. So much does this single episode consume the anarchist mind that a reader has little idea what role debs even played in the party. Two years later he found himself leading one of the largest strikes in american history the great pullman strike. He was imprisoned again in world war i for encouraging men to avoid the draft, and ran for president in 1920 from his.
Sanders, 73, has been preaching socialism for nearly half a century, and he cites eugene debs, the fivetime presidential candidate of the socialist party of america, as his hero. In june 1897, six months after mckinleys victory, various socialists created a new coalition, the first step toward foundation of the socialist democratic party in 1900. Debs april 29, 1922 routine may day greeting sent out to the labor press by recently freed federal prisoner and socialist party icon gene debs. This reading is particularly significant due to the rise of bernie sanders in the 2016. He made five attempts to gain the presidency in 1900, 1904, 1908 1912 and 1920 all as the standard bearer of the socialist party. The life and times of eugene victor debs, in limited release in. Documentary film about the cofounder of the american socialist party and tremendous influence on. Eugene debs delivers a speech in canton, ohio in 1918. Given all the talk of socialism in this election, one would hope the electorate would have a clear idea of.
Trade unionist, socialist, revolutionary, 18551926. Socialist strategy articles archive democratic socialists. With the formation of the socialist party sp in 1901, debs focus shifted to a tireless fight for socialism. He was extremely effective as a public speaker and made his living primarily as a lecturer and contributor to various periodicals. Eugene debs and the idea of socialism by howard zinn. He argued for a transformation that would make the working class the ruling class. We look forward to your participation in our sub but please be respectful as rules are enforced. Eugene victor debs, whose home is an infrequently visited museum on the campus of indiana state university, was the most important political figure of the 20th century. He built the socialist movement in america and was eventually crucified by the capitalist class when he and hundreds of thousands of followers became a potent political threat. According to eugene debs and several other thinkers, the main problems that socialism will resolve are social inequality and corporate greed, although these views are highly contested in the western world. In 1979 future us senator bernie sanders produced this audio documentary about eugene v. Our spring issue, pandemic politics, is on its way from the printer and will be released soon.
Debs and the endurance of socialism the new yorker. That seemed to have been the position of lenin, stalin, and other marxist leaders. Debs museum explores history of american socialism eugene debs was the first major democratic socialist in american history, running for president five times in the early 1900s. Take special care not to push individuals on selfdisclosure. This book contributes to a new understanding of debs as a labor organizer. Debs believed the struggle for black equality was critical to realizing the promise of socialism. Given all the talk of socialism in this election, one would hope the. On january 1, 1897, he declared his official conversion to socialism. Eugene debs espoused a view of labor equality and socialism.
Through his presidential candidacies as well as his work with labor movements, debs eventually. Biopic about labor organizer and cofounder of the socialist party of america, eugene victor debs. He needs no introduction to you, comrades and friends, this afternoon. Eugene victor gene debs november 5, 1855 october 20, 1926 was an american socialist, political activist, trade unionist, one of the founding members of the industrial workers of the world iww and five times the candidate of the socialist party of america for president of the united states. Debs open letter to the american railway union, as quoted in chicago railway times, january 1, 1897. The very contemplation of the prospect is a wellspring of inspiration. The outlook for socialism in the united states eugene v. Debs ran for president while serving a ten year jail term for speaking. Debs was named eugene victor after the french writers eugene sue and victor hugo. Debs was perhaps the most popular and powerful socialist spokesperson america has ever known. Eugene debs and american socialism international socialist. Debs museum explores history of american socialism.
Debs stands out as the most prominent personality in the. Unionism and socialism debs socialism, revolution and internationalism deville state andsocialism deville economic discontent hagerty. May 07, 2018 once upon a time, the word socialist wasnt considered a dirty word. Debs primary source written by fivetime nominee by the socialist party for president, eugene v. Debs this collection of essays charts the thought and character of eugene v. They are one in their opposition to socialism, that. Debs museum explores history of american socialism eugene debs was the first major democratic socialist in american history, running for president five times in. The story of eugene debs raises big questions such as. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws.
Eugene victor debs 18551926 was one of the greatest and most articulate advocates of workers power to have ever lived. This research hopefully provides insight about the uniquely american challenges and circumstances relating to socialism, relevant as avowed socialism has appeared in america once again through bernie sanders. This is a community to discuss current events in our world from an anticapitalist perspective and to provide clarity to socialist ideas. This reading is particularly significant due to the rise of bernie sanders in the 2016 election cycle. This excellent introduction to debs and the socialist party is also an engaging. Citizen and socialist by nick salvatore in epub, fb2, txt download e book. Debs discusses the reasons why socialism is the answer for working class americans.
Debs 18551926 was an american labor leader, socialist politician and candidate for president in multiple elections 19001920. According to eugene debs, what problems will socialism resolve. Eugene debs and the idea of socialism by howard zinn excerpted from the book howard zinn on history seven stories press, 2000, paper when the soviet union disintegrated in 1989, we heard a constant refrain in the press and from the mouths of politicians, that socialism had been discredited, and capitalism was the wave of the future. He conducted his last campaign from behind the bars of a federal prison. Debs ran as its presidential candidate that year and in 1904, 1908, and 1912. Page 30 socialism is first of all a political movement of the working class, clearly defined and uncompromising, which aims at the overthrow of the prevailing capitalist system by securing control of the national government and by the exercise of the public powers, supplanting the existing capitalist class government with socialist. Democratic socialism the relationship between democracy and socialism is a. Eugene debs relationship with the socialist party of america is reduced entirely to the conflict with the anarchist i. Sanders is promoting something that falls far, far short of the fundamental change that debs fought for. Debs was born in terre haute, indiana in 1855 to a family of french alsatian immigrants. March 10, 2016 this is a year when, presumably for the first time ever, we have a major party candidate who has won states in a presidential primary and yet is also a selfdeclared socialist. The socialist partys leader eugene v debs promoted a form. Wherever capitalism appears, in pursuit of its mission of exploitation, there will socialism, fertilized by misery, watered by tears, and vitalized by agitation be also found, unfurling its classstruggle banner and proclaiming its. Debs was shaped by the rapid growth of industrial capitalism and thus was trying implement socialism to help combat the ills associated with capitalism.
It is available here, and i think there may also be a free download available somewhere but i cant find it. It is a traditional biography in that it emphasizes this one individuals personal and public life as far as the evidence allows. The home that debs and his wife, kate, built stands today, nestled in the campus of indiana state university. In 1855, labor leader, reformer and socialist eugene v. Debs, the outlook for socialism in the united states 1900 the sun of the passing century is setting upon scenes of extraordinary activity in almost every part of our capitalistic old planet.
Debs by mark harris in the annals of american socialism, the name of eugene v. By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our rules page. How i became a socialist eugene debs in this essay, labor leader eugene debs described how he became a socialist. Running for the fourth time, debs called for the abolition of capitalism rather than for its reform. The foundation owns, maintains, and operates the debs. Debs was an influential early american labor leader, a founding member of the industrial workers of the world iww, and a presidential candidate for the socialist party of america.
Democratic socialism the relationship between democracy. The thesis of this book is presenting debs as a person who was shaped by the society around him. Unionism and socialism debs socialism, revolution and internationalism deville state andsocialism deville economic discontent hagerty right to belazy lafargue openletterto national laborassociation ofgermany lassalle workingmans program lassalle wage,laborandcapital marx communistmanifesto marxandbngels city ofangels mcgrady socialism and the. Debs ran as its presidential candidate that year and in. During the early years of the labor movement in the united states, debs was far ahead of his times, leading the formation of the american railway union aru and the american socialist party debs was born in terre haute, indiana, on november 5, 1855. Eugene victor debs 18551926, a leading american union organizer and, after 1896, a prominent socialist, ran five times as the socialist party nominee for president. Debs father, influenced by the french revolution, read french and german classics to his children. She acknowledged that individual socialists had succeeded in pushing a few afl unions to be. After the war, he became the symbol of a growing movement pushing for amnesty for imprisoned radicals. Debs, labor organizer and socialist party candidate for u.
Mar, 2018 with the formation of the socialist party sp in 1901, debs focus shifted to a tireless fight for socialism. Debs, a gifted and militant leader of americas railroad workers, seemed to have been granted a prophetic gift. Collection of eugene debs speeches by bernie sanders youtube. In 1912, debss campaign represented the highwater mark for the american socialist movement in national politics, pulling in 6 percent of the vote. If this seemed to have been the position of lenin, stalin, and other marxist leaders is this true. Messages posted on the democratic underground discussion forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of democratic underground, llc. A century of the social democratic labor party in sweden by klaus misgeld editor, et al the editors dont need your commentary, cowards tend to identify themselves as reader.
The socialist partys leader eugene v debs promoted a form of socialism that from history 2 at houston community college. He weaved protestant, midwestern values together with the ideas of socialism to form a model for a new industrial economy. Freeberg in his 2008 book on the debs case, democracys prisoner. He is the subject of filmmaker yale stroms new documentary, american socialist. He placed his faith in democracy, the franchise, and the twoparty system. Book traces origin of phrase in wwjd movement to topeka minister, social activist. The democratic party declares that imperialism is the paramount issue, and that the country is certain to go to the demnition bowwows if democratic officeholders are not elected instead of the republicans. Debs acknowledges that the socialist movements ranks were shaken by world war i, but was in the aftermath readjusting itself to the new conditions. Debs stands out as the most prominent personality in. Eugene debs, along with dozens of other socialist leaders. Making his way in the railroad industry, debs formed the american railway union in 1892. By max eastman a t a russian socialist convention held in stockholm in 1907 it was estimated that the delegates140 of themhad spent, collectively, one hundred and thirtyeight years, three months and fifteen days in prison. Debs ran for the presidency five times between 1900 and 1920.
This 1904 campaign poster highlighting socialist party presidential hopeful eugene debs and his running mate ben hanford helped put the underdog party on the map. Debs thelabor question, as it is called, hascometo be recognized as the foremost of our time. A short studentproduced multimedia documentary examining the rise of american socialism during the gilded age 1870s1910s. The socialism of bernie sanderswho says hes running as a democrat to shift the debate to the leftis fundamentally different from that of eugene debs, who committed his life to spreading the ideas of revolutionary socialism.
Debs was the prominent labor leader behind the 194 pullman. Socialist party candidate eugene debs 1904 campaign poster. The socialist party is the party of the working class, regardless of. The book is also a piece of social history that assumes individuals do not stand outside the culture and society they grew in and from. Debs favorite book was hugos les miserables, which he read over and over throughout his life, both in french and english. The outlook for socialism in the united states eugene. That seemed to have been the position of lenin, stalin, and other marxist. Unionism and socialism eugene victor debs snippet view 1912. This book is an analysis of debs understanding of republicanism from a jeffersonian point of view. Salvatore notes that this encompassing concept of democracy was appealing to many people and still is today. Debs was one of the major players in american politics at the turn of the 20th century.
He led the pullman strike in 1894 and was imprisoned for disobeying a federal court order to desist. Eugene debs and the kingdom of evil common dreams views. Eugene debs had led historic strikes and run for president four times on the socialist party ticket, but the renowned orator had. Debs ran for president while serving a tenyear jail term for speaking.
When americas most prominent socialist was jailed for speaking. American socialist once upon a time, the word socialist wasnt considered a dirty word. Debs, the outlook for socialism in the united states 1900. Unfortunately, debs permitted party infighting and spent his energies in unwinnable presidential campaigns.
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